Zelma was born July 4, 1923 in Pompeii on the old Fraker homestead, the daughter of Addison and Ruth (Brattin) DeMott. Following her graduation from high school, Zelma attended CEI, where she graduated in 1947 with an associate degree. She married Wayland Gray Payne on June 3, 1950 in Pompeii. They enjoyed 55 years together before he preceded her in death on April 28, 2006. Zelma enjoyed music, photography, reading and sewing, and had been a sales representative for World Book Encyclopedia. She was active in the Church of God and had attended in Ithaca, St. Louis, and Alma.

Zelma is survived by her children, Patricia (Douglas) Rudd of Des Moines, Iowa, Leland (Debb) Payne of Petoskey, Juanita (Donald) Hotz of Kansas, and Eric Payne of DeWitt; 5 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; her bother and sisters, James (Berneda) DeMott of Pompeii, Margaret Hughes of Alma, and June Jaje of Johnston, Iowa.